Lufthansa flights to and from South Africa now offer unlimited free messaging to all passengers.
Not many airlines offer this service to all passengers on flights.
That said, Emirates and Qatar Airways offer inflight connectivity (though there may be limits to users) depending on the class in which the passenger is travelling.
Last year, Qatar Airways introduced Starlink connectivity on its first Boeing 777 aircraft.
Airlines operating in South Africa still do not offer any kind of WiFi connectivity during domestic flights.
FREE INFLIGHT MESSAGING FOR ALL PASSENGERS
Lufthansa has introduced unlimited free inflight messaging on its long-haul intercontinental flights, including services to and from South Africa.
The airline offers flights to both Johannesburg and Cape Town. It operates scheduled flights from Munich and Frankfurt to South Africa.
Passengers on Lufthansa flights can thus send and receive any messages and photos during their flight.
This service is available on apps, including WhatsApp and iMessage, on both smartphones and tablets. The connectivity is available to all passengers regardless of the class of travel.
Many passengers value the ability to send messages while in the air, whether for personal or professional purposes.
NOW ON LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS
The launch of the messaging service on Lufthansa’s long-haul and intercontinental flights comes after the airline piloted the service on its short-haul and medium-haul flights.
According to Lufthansa’s Chief Customer Officer, Heiko Reitz, the messaging service has proven successful on Lufthansa’s short and medium-haul services.
For many passengers, being able to contact people on terra firma is important.
There might be a need to inform people on the ground of delays or changes that may have to be communicated before arriving.
“Being reachable, even during a long flight, has long been a basic need and a decisive factor when choosing an airline. Free messages, as well as inflight internet, for example, therefore offer a portfolio of digital services that is very attractive to our customers,” Reitz said, per Travel News.
EXPANSION OF INFLIGHT MESSAGING ACROSS LUFTHANSA AIRLINES
Lufthansa will expand the service to other airlines in the Lufthansa Airline Group in due course.
SWISS and Austrian Airlines, also members of the Lufthansa Group, will also offer free messaging on selected long-haul flights.
What are your experiences with inflight messaging and connectivity?
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